Rotatable disc indicia matching game device



Sept. 30, 1969 ,N1-HUM ET A1. 3,469,838

ROTATABLE DISC INDICIA MATCHING GAME DEVICE Filed June 22. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.4

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/NVE/VTORS. Albin Thum1 Fred Thum, Wolter Thum.

by Sparrow and Sparrow ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,469,838 ROTATABLE DISC INDICIA MATCHING GAME DEVICE Albin Thum, 39-22 Van Ryper Place, Fair Lawn, NJ.

07410; Fred Thum, 472 Sutton Ave., Hackensack,

NJ. 07601; and Walter Thum, 12-42 Sunnyside Drive, Fair Lawn, NJ. 07410 Filed June 22, 1966, Ser. No. 559,468 Int. Cl. A63f 4/ 04 U.S. Cl. 273-1 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A game in which two rotatable members marked with different symbols have polygonally-shaped central openings. The two members are rotatable independent of each other about a slidingly rotatable column having a portion of polygonally-shaped cross-section. The symbols on one member are not visible to the player rotating the other member. When both members are rotated to correspond to the same symbol, the polygonally-shaped openings are aligned, and the column may be slid to project through the central openings.

This invention relates in general to games and more particularly to a game in which two or more persons may participate. The game according to the invention is highly entertaining, stimulating and amusing; its operation is not diicult to understand and the type of playing encompasses challenges to the players as well as Winning chances. The game also holds the moment of amusing surprise which occurs at the unexpected instant which cannot be calculated or anticipated in advance. It will become obvious that the game is completely harmless and safe to play with.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described. Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereafter and in part will be obvious herefrorn or may be learned by practicing the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel game in which two or more persons play, and which is very amusing and entertaining.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game which consists basically of dials or discs so constructed so that each is not usable to the operator of the other, and when the dials are on the same setting, a spring-loaded mechanism is released.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a game of the aforementioned type which offers winning chances to the successful player.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a game which is relatively simple in construction, easy to understand and safe to play with.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whichform part of this specification and illustrate merely by way of example one embodiment of the device of the invention. In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game according to the invention;

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FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a section, taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a plan view of one of the masking plates;

FIG. 5 shows one of the two rotatable discs employed in the game;

FIG. 6 shows a section of the disc shown in FIG. 5, partly broken away, taken along the line 6.-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section, taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the center sleeve shown in FIG. 7, taken along the line 8--8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a further cross-section of the center sleeve shown in FIG. 7, taken along the line 9*-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. l0 is a view of the release mechanism, taken along the line 10-10 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 shows a mechanism for operating the discs, partly broken away.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings illus trating a preferred embodiment by which the invention may be realized, there is shown in FIGS. l and 7 a substantially flat, rectangular box or housing 20 which has cut-outs or bays 21, 22 on two opposite sides of `box 20 and has preferably circular holes 23 in the center of the other two opposite sides of box or housing 20. In the rear wall of each of bays 21, 22 is a substantially rectangular hole 24 (FIG. 3). Within box 20 are two substantially llat circular or disc-like members or elements 25, 26 upper and lower, respectively, which are supported by plates 27, 28 which in turn are mounted on posts 29, 30 having spacers 31, 32 and 33, 34, Posts 29, 30 are fastened to the bottom 35 of box 20. A centrally located stud, column or portion 42 of sleeve 36 is cylindrical in shape or cross- 20 on which is centered a hollow member or sleeve 36. Disc-like members 25, 26 are horizontally disposed one above the other with relation to upright member 37 and hollow member 36. A helical spring 38 encircling stud 37 supports sleeve 36. Within sleeve 36 is a helical spring 39 which encircles stud 37 and is held on stud 37 between its head 40 and an internal annular shoulder of sleeve 36. In the rest position, spring 38 and spring 39 hold sleeve 36 lloatingly suspended (FIG. 7). The lower portion or part 41 of sleeve 36 is substantially polygonal in shape or cross-section (FIG. 8), whereas the upper part or portion 42 of sleeve 36 is cylindrical in shape or crosssection. Discs 25, 26 each has a polygonal-shaped opening or hole 43. Sleeve 36 is located in Vand adapted to extend through hole 43 of lower disc 26 and is rotatable therewith. Hole 43 in upper disc 25 has such a tolerance that sleeve 36 may slide freely through said hole 43. Obviously plates 27, 28 have center holes 44 accommodating clearances for sleeve 36. Disc-like members 25, 26 are partly cut off, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, and each has a substantially rectangular open cut-out 45 and a closed cut-out portion 46 in alignment with -but spaced therefrom and located on the other side of hole 43. Posts 29, 30 project within cut-outs 45, 46 of disc members 25 such that the posts limit the rotation of disc members 25, 26 to an arc less than that which is subtended by a wall of polygonal opening 43. Two oppositely-disposed portions 47, 48 of each disc member 25, 26 have peripheral skirts or flanges 49, 50 connected thereto, which angescarry spaced-apart indicia such as letters or numerals on the outer walls thereof. Any other indicia, characters, pictures, etc., may be used. There are like and matchable indicia on both flanges of each disc visible through openings or holes 24 at a time and in a manner hereinafter described. These indicia are of such size, and discs 25, 26 are arranged in such manner, that they can become clearly visible in holes 24 in both bays 21, 22 (FIG. 3).

Below Vspring 38 and slidingly arranged on stud 37 is a washer 51. A wire 52 embraces washer 51 for lifting the latter. Wire 52 is bent in such manner that it extends laterally in both directions (FIGS. 1 and 7). At the end of each extension, wire 52 is rotatably held in `a bearing 53, and it is bent upwardly for forming two levers 54, 55 which protrude above the top 56 of box 20. Thus, by pulling either one of levers 54, 55, washer 51 is lifted and spring 38 is compressed.

Articulatedly connected with levers 54, 55 are sliding masking plates 57, 58 (FIGS. 1 and 4), each of which has a cut-out indicating respectively 59, 59a, the cutouts being to opposite hand. Masking plates 57, 58 partly cover holes 24 in bays 21, 22, but can uncover same when moved by levers 54, 55. Masking plates 57, 58 are arranged between vertical ilanges or skirts 49, 50 of discs 25, 26 and rectangular holes 24.

In the center of top 56 of box 20 is a hole 60 in which a bolt 61 can slide freely. An upwardly extending bushing 62 at the top 56 is arranged to aid in holding bolt 61 in a vertical position. Bolt 61 has a head 63 and a helical spring 64 is located under head 63 and surrounds bushing 62. The lower end of bolt 61 has a groove 65 into which projects a V-shaped locking plate 66 Locking plate 66 is slidingly located on the underside of top 56. A bell- `crank lever 67 engages with one end 68 a cutout 69 of locking plate 66 whereas the other end 70 of lever 67 extends reely over the upper end 71 of sleeve 36. The weight of lever 67 urges plate 66 along the underside of top 56 until the V-notched end of plate 66 engages groove 65 of bolt 61 (FIG. 10).

When bolt 61 is pressed down, compressing spring 64, groove 65 is engaged by V-shaped locking plate 66, and thus bolt 61 is kept down. By lifting end 70 of bell-crank lever 67, locking plate 66 is pulled back by end 68 engaging cut-out 69, bolt 61 is set free .and is ejected upwardly by the force of spring 64.

The operation of the game is as follows:

The two playing parties face cut-outs or bays 21, 22, respectively. Discs 25, 26 can be rotated by reaching with the fingertips through holes 23 where the peripheries of the former can be engaged thereby. In view of the fact that the discs are cut olf at opposite sides, respectively, obviously upper disc 25 only can be reached and engaged on one side of box and lower disc 26 only on the other side thereof. The players take turns in rotating the corresponding discs. Player No. 1 rotates disc 25 in such manner that a selected indicia is visible through hole 24 on his side of box 20 in, for example, bay 21; a duplicate of the identical indicia appearing in bay 22, but concealed by the masking plate. Player No. 2 rotates disc 26 attempting to match the indicia of disc 25, which indicia is not visible on his side of box 20. Player No. 2 can see his own indicia on his side of box 20 through his opening 24 in bay 22, but his masking plate 58, by virtue of the shape of its cut-out conceals the indicia on his opponents (Player No. 1) disc. Player No. 2 then pulls lever 55 on his side, and masking plate 58 uncovers flange 47 of upper disc and discloses his opponents selected indicia. If his chosen indicia does not match that chosen by Player No. 1, Player No. 2 has lost his chance, and it will then be Player No. ls turn. If, however, identical indicia appear, polygonal hole 43 of disc 25 is then exactly aligned with lower portion or part 41 of sleeve 36 permitting the latter to slide and project upwardly through hole 43 of disc 25 when spring 38 is compressed by pulling lever 54. By this upward movement, upper portion 41 of sleeve 36 moves end 70 of bell-crank lever 67 triggering the release of bolt 61 which, as a surprise, will be ejected upwardly indicating the winner. The game is then reset for a new round. It is obvious that any figure may be placed on top of head 63 of bolt 61, which may be projected when bolt 61 is released, and such gure may have a kind of parachute or umbrella which will open to permit it to float down.

In order to facilitate the rotating of discs 25, 26, friction wheels 72, 73 engaging the peripheries of corresponding discs may be arranged, having little handwheels protruding over top 56 of box 20 as indiciated in FIG. 1l, handwheels not being shown in the drawing. This arrangement would be in lieu of providing the openings 23 on opposite sides of box 20.

The game may be played by more than two persons, in which case more discs would be added as well as duplication of relative parts.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a certain preferred example `which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art lafter understanding the principle of the invention, that various other changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A game comprising a housing, a vertical column in said housing, a member slidingly and rotatably mounted on said column, resilient means below said member and in engagement therewith for biasing said member in upward direction, said member having an upper portion and a polygonally-shaped lower portion, an upper rotatable element and a lower rotatable element, each of said elements having a polygonally-shaped central opening of the same size and shape as said polygonally-shaped lower portion of said member, said lower element engaging, as its central opening, said poly-gonally-shaped lower portion of said member, and rotatable therewith, the upper portion of said member projecting in said opening of said upper element, said upper element being rotatable independently thereof, indicia on each of said elements and viewable through said housing and arranged so that when like indicia are viewable through said housing said polygonally-shaped openings in said elements are aligned, and manually operable means activating said resilient means whereby said member may be slid with relation to said column to project through said central opening of said upper element when said central openings of said elements are brought into alignment by relative rotation of said elements.

2. A game according to claim 1, and wherein means are provided for manually rotating said elements respectively.

3. A game according to claim 1, and wherein openings are provided in said housing for viewing said indicia, a masking plate arranged at the rear of each of said openings, said plates being operable by said manually operable means for exposing indicia carried by at least one of said elements.

4. A game according to claim 1, and wherein openings are provided in said housing for viewing said indicia, a masking plate arranged at the rear of each of said openings, said plates being operable by said manually operable means, each of said plates having an opening shaped to normally conceal indicia carried by one of said elements and expose indicia carried by the other of said elements.

5. A game according to claim 1, and wherein openings are provided in said housing for viewing said indicia, said elements carrying a duplicate set of indicia, each set being spaced from the other set whereby indicia in the sets may be exposed through said openings respectively, a masking plate arranged at the rear of each of said openings, said plates being operable by said manually operable means, each of said plates having an opening shaped to normally conceal indicia carried by one of said elements and expose indicia carried by the other of said elements.

6. A game according to claim 1, and comprising means for limiting rotation of said elements.

7. A game according to claim 5, and means for limiting rotation of said elements.

8. A game according to claim 1, depressible means mounted on said housing above said member, means for locking said depressible means when depressed, and means Operable by said member to release said locking means whereby said depressible means may expand.

9. A game according to claim 4, depressible means mounted on said housing above said member, means for locking said depressible means when depressed, and means operable by said member to release said locking means whereby said depressible means may expand.

10. A game according to claim 5, depressible means mounted on said housing above said member, means for locking said depressilble means when depressed, and means operable by said member to release said locking means whereby said depressible means may expand.

11. A game according to claim 1, said member being hollow, and said column extending within said hollow of said member, and resilient means disposed in said hollow, whereby said member will be returned to its normal position when said manual operating means does not lactivate said resilient means below said member.

12. A game according to claim 4, said member being hollow, and said column extending within said hollow of said member, and resilient means disposed in said hollow, whereby said member will be returned to its normal position when said manual operating means does not activate said resilient means below said member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,844,374 7/1958 French 273--1 2,994,531 8/1961 Eberwein 273-1 3,226,121 12/1965 Goldfarb 273-1 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

